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Buell Motorcycle Forum » XBoard » Buell XBoard Archives » Archive through April 03, 2008 » Squirmy rear end, advice please « Previous Next »

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Sleeper_777
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 01:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Hi gang,
Any advice please?

2003 XB9S with stock Dunlop on front, plenty of tire left. Back Dunlop hit a nail, I removed the tire, bought a Michelin Pilot Power from RonAyers, had a local motorcycle shop replace and balance the tire. Re-installed according to manual, but it seems to "float" or "squishy" now. I have given the tire time to warm up when riding and the "new" is worn in, about 700 miles on it. It does not handle well on turns, where as before it was on rails.

Tire pressure according to manual,

Suspension settings according to manual.

I saw the posts about not mixing tire types. I don't want to spend money on replacing the front tire if this won't fix the problem.

Regards,
Sleeper_777
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Punkid8888
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 02:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think it might be the different brands. I have heard that the Michelins have a very different contour from other tires. My friends that have used them say they seam to almost fall over when you lean into a corner. so if your using that type of a tire with a half warn front you might get some weird handling characteristics.
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Midknyte
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 02:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I set mine up to the manual too - treat that as your starting point...

This might relate. As I started getting more comfortable and aggressive, my rear would slide or skip a bit. Reducing the rear compression damping was the fix.
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Schmitty
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 06:57 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

U can't go by the manual for tire pressures unless you're using the OEM tire type. Your best bet is to get a hold of Michelin. Check their website or wherever and find a tech help line. Tell them what kind of tire you have and what kind of bike it's on and let them give you a pressure. I put a set of Avon Viper Sports on my XB9R and set them to the pressure in the manual and I had the same problem. A quick call to Avon and I found out that these tires on this bike need 36psi in the front and 42psi in the rear. Set to those pressures, problem solved. Each manufacturer will have a different recommendation for their tire.

Schmitty
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Terribletim
Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 07:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I was gonna say date a smaller girl.
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Lamo
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 05:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

There is some good info on the uk buell enthusiasts site about tyres from a bridgestone tyre tech one thing he does say is you should not mix tyre manufacturers not even mix different model of tyre from the same manufacturer.
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Slaughter
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 09:07 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Remember when you "mix" tires - you are changing a lot. It is not a sin to mix tires - but you have to realize that you just also changed the ride height on the rear (depending on tire geometry it could be even more of a change)

Just going to a new tire has "lifted" the rear end up a third inch just because you have that much more rubber.

As others have said, get the recommended pressures from Michelin. Check with their website for recommended pressures and realize that the recommended pressures are based on MILEAGE and NOT HANDLING. You always run lower pressures for improved handling - BUT you kill your tires in half the miles.

Like others have said, go to the manufacturer (or where you bought them) for Michelin recommended pressures. If I recall, the Michelins use some really weird pressures and are WILDLY different front to rear because of their construction. I don't run Michelins so can't give you good pressure data.

(Message edited by slaughter on March 29, 2008)
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Slaughter
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 09:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I should say that I often mix tires on the streetbike because I'm cheap and use my old race take-offs sometimes - but I expect the handling to be funky and unpredictable. I just don't push it on the street so I can accept the weird handling in exchange for the $$ savings.
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Pwnzor
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 10:42 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

mixed up tires give mixed up results. play around with tire pressures and suspension settings a bit.
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Darkducati
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 02:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Slide or die
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Brumbear
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 05:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Check the front tire for the dunlop "bridging" or wavy thing that happens to them my front was good tread wise but all wavey and bridgey like and the front end would dive into turns once it hit the wear point Sorry I am so vague but thats the best way I can explain it and it would cause the bike to get a little squirlly with the whell base being so short I guess
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Sgthigg
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 10:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

You need to get the front to match the rear. It will never feel right if you dont and it is dangerous. Those Dunlops are garbage. After you bike is totally set up with pilot powers, you will be amazed how much better the bike handles compared to the stock Dunlops.
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M1combat
Posted on Saturday, March 29, 2008 - 10:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

+1 on the last post.
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Sleeper_777
Posted on Sunday, March 30, 2008 - 12:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I have ordered the matching front tire. Michelin's web site does not list the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure. Does anyone know what Michelin recommends as opposed to everyone's personal preference?

Regards,
Sleeper_777
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